The GMC Hostel Road, a vital artery connecting Christian Basti to Ganeshguri and the Guwahati Medical College, lies in utter disrepair, raising serious concerns among residents.
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From waterlogged stretches to incomplete construction, the road’s condition has not only disrupted daily life but has also sparked speculations of a large-scale scam.
Residents and commuters have long complained about the slow progress of construction and the poor state of the road, but their grievances have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
Talking to GPlus, Sudipta Das, a resident of GMC Hostel Road said, “The contractor was supposed to finish the job in one year. Less than 10% of the work has been completed, but 95% of the time has already passed. The road is riddled with water leakage, and there have been so many accidents. Despite being one of the most crucial roads in Guwahati, no one seems to care. Even the local councillor doesn’t respond. It’s quite possible that a major scam is involved here,” he alleged.
Another resident, who lives near Dispur College, talking to GPlus said, “The tender for this road work was only issued after three long years of agitation. The deadline for completion was set at one year, but it’s impossible to finish the work in the remaining two and a half months. We have reached out to our councillor, Abhishek Som, several times, but he never responds. Residents have also met Ashok Singhal, but nothing has changed. Even the Chief Minister hasn’t addressed our grievances,” the resident said.
In addition to that, he highlighted the inadequate manpower deployed for the project. “There are only six labourers working on this long stretch of road. How can they possibly complete the work on time with such a small workforce?” he questioned.
Students of Dispur College, located along the road, have also been severely impacted.
Talking to GPlus, one of the students shared their ordeal with GPlus: “This road is in such a bad condition that it’s difficult for us to commute. We are tired of wading through flooded water every day. There’s always water leaking from pipes, making the road unusable.”
The disrepair of GMC Hostel Road has not only made commuting a nightmare but has also posed serious safety risks, especially for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders.
The Blame Game Continues
While the residents and commuters express their frustration, officials have offered little clarity or resolution.
Talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is involved in infrastructure projects in Guwahati, said, “The pipelines in the area have been removed by the Public Works Department (PWD). If there are any pipe leakage issues, we inform the residents beforehand because sometimes hydro tests are being conducted.”
However, this explanation has done little to pacify the residents, who claim that they are rarely informed about such activities.
When GPlus reached out to PWD officials for comments on the matter, they were unavailable to respond, further deepening the sense of neglect and mismanagement.
Many residents are now demanding an investigation into the slow progress and alleged mismanagement of the project.
A shopkeeper in the road talking to GPlus said, “We need answers. Where is the money going? Why has there been no action despite repeated complaints? If this isn’t a scam, then what is it?”
The deteriorating condition of GMC Hostel Road is an example of mismanagement in urban infrastructure projects. While residents and commuters suffer, the lack of coordination between various departments and the apparent apathy of elected representatives has only worsened the situation.
